Gary Schellenberger

[Member for Perth—Wellington, June 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as I approach retirement, I am struck by the gratitude that I have for those who have supported me, those who have challenged me, and those I have had the privilege to serve.

I have had the pleasure of working with the staff of the House of Commons, foreign diplomats, and our public service.

I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the House for their help and support along the way. I thank my staff, both here and at home, some of whom have been with me since I was first elected. I would like to recognize Les Broadfoot, who suggested that I go into politics.

I cannot begin to express my thanks for my wife Judy and our family, who have been by my side throughout this journey.

I will always remain indebted to my constituents for their faith in me over these past 12 years.

It has been a great honour to serve Canada in this wonderful House.

[Canadian Heritage, May 15th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, Canada will celebrate its 150th anniversary. It is a key milestone in our history, a history we can be proud of.

Today, the Prime Minister announced what our government will do to celebrate this milestone. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister update this House on what infrastructure initiative our government is launching to mark this occasion?

[Petitions, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the two other petitions are the same.

The petitioners ask the House of Commons to respect the right of small-scale family farmers to preserve, exchange and use seeds.

[Petitions, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present today three petitions.

The first petition is from my constituents who are concerned with Bill C-51.

[Veterans Affairs, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian veterans played a crucial role in the campaign to liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War. They fought for freedom and Canadian values.

As the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands is upon us, can the Minister of Veterans Affairs please update the House on what our government is doing to to commemorate this important part of our history?

[Liberation of the Netherlands Ceremonies, April 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my constituent, veteran Art Boon, who stormed the beaches of Normandy with allied forces on D-Day in 1944, and went on to help liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation.

Art has been officially invited by the Government of the Netherlands to attend commemorative ceremonies in Europe to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation. Art wants to accept this honour and have his son, Rick, a teacher, with him at his side as he receives a hero's welcome in the Netherlands, but the Avon Maitland District School Board is refusing to allow Rick Boon unpaid leave to attend.

This is a travesty. Our government strongly condemns this decision and calls on the Avon Maitland District School Board to allow Rick Toon to travel with his father to be honoured.

This is about respect for veterans and their families. Our Conservative government stands firmly behind the Boon family.

[Ontario Theatre Festivals, April 22nd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate the Stratford Festival on its 2015 season, opening later this spring.

For over 60 years, people from around the world have come to Stratford for unparalleled performances from North America's leading theatre company. This year's performances include The Sound of Music, Hamlet, The Diary of Anne Frank, and many more.

In addition to the Stratford Festival, I would also like to recognize other theatre groups in southwestern Ontario that greatly contribute to the arts and culture of this nation. Drayton Entertainment, the Shaw Festival, the Grand Theatre in London, the Blyth Festival, and many other companies, are examples of these great assets in Canada.

I congratulate all of these theatre groups for their continued success and thank them for their enormous contribution to the arts in Canada.

[Stratford Festival, February 24th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as I stand here in this place for the last time presenting a private member's motion or bill, it humbles me to listen to some of the kind words I have received here this evening.

The Stratford Festival and its management over the years has been one of the easiest things to support and promote in my riding. I am not going to make a great, long speech because I feel the warmth from everyone here for the arts and for the Stratford theatre. It is wonderful.

With that, I am just going to thank all those who have supported this motion. I will see them at the theatre, I am quite sure. The Stratford Festival invites everyone from the House to come and visit Stratford. It is a wonderful part of southwestern Ontario, with the greatest theatre not only in Canada but also in the world.

[Stratford Festival, February 24th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Suchitoto is a program called “Sharing a Dream” that was sponsored by the Canadian government, the Stratford Festival, and the people in El Salvador. It took some gang members and people who were unemployed and not only made them into actors but also a theatre company. Stratford not only sends actors there when there is time off but also stagehands, carpenters, electricians, and lighting people. People are trained in lighting and to be electricians. After a couple of years in that setting, they get jobs. It has helped to stop some of the gang wars in that area and it is very positive. I give them a lot of credit, along with our government, for doing that job.

[Stratford Festival, February 24th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, one thing I would like to comment on is that $125 received by Tom Patterson back in 1952. He went to council and asked for $100 to go to New York City to seek advice or direction on how this festival might get started. The council did not think $100 would do it, so it upped it to $125. The idea came about because the railroad was leaving Stratford. There were CNR shops in Stratford where locomotives were fixed and he knew that there was going to be an economic lapse for the city. That small idea has grown into the Stratford Festival and southwestern Ontario now having a $140 million business, all told.